Notes - The Brainstorm Podcasthttps://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/Sun, 21 Oct 2018 15:38:55 +0000en-USSite-Server v6.0.0-17339-17339 (http://www.squarespace.com)Woo Free Since 2013Confirmation Biases About Civility and Science with Kevin from TWINCrew EpisodesThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectablePodcast episodesInterviewsCory JohnstonTue, 30 Oct 2018 06:28:11 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/10/21/confirmation-biases-about-civility-and-science-with-kevin-from-twin573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5bcc9d8f104c7b8195a0ba03Cory, Lisa, Angela, Sarah, and Dave talk to Kevin from This Week in News
with Kevin and Benedict and This Week in History with Kevin and Benedict.
After the interview they talk about whether civility is the best response
to our political opponents. Then in the Shift To Reason Radio portion the
crew goes through a few stories as quickly as possible.

Confirmation Bias with Kevin from TWIN

The Skeptic Studio #62

In this episode of The Skeptic Studio Cory, Angela, Lisa, Sarah, and the amazing Dave talked to Kevin from This Week In News and This Week In History with Kevin and Benedict. The topics ranged from silly to serious and back again.

Subscribe

Womansplaining and Manspreading

Shift To Reason Radio #47

In this episode of Shift to Reason Radio we talk about some seriously WTF!? stories, some Woo, some science, and some politics. A little bit of everything from Cory, Sarah, Lisa, Angela, and Dave. Plus we had a lot of fun with the Discord chat so make sure to join us for live shows and chat with us while listening live.

Thanks to our financial supporters, Kayla, Janet, Kim, Stephanie, Zach, The Utah Outcasts(x2), Will, Aaron, Darryl, Destin sucks, BobbGlenn, Destin Doesn’t Suck That Much, Magnus, Several Species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave, Positively Skeptical, Rob,The Podunk Polymath, The Flying Spaghetti Monster (Sauce Be Upon Him), Freethinker215, and Larry(x2). If you want to join them and help the show grow then you can do that at www.patreon.com/brainstormpodcast

LinksSupport]]>Confirmation Biases About Civility and Science with Kevin from TWINPissing People Off with Dusty Smith While Brett Kavanaugh Becomes a MonsterThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectableCrew EpisodesPodcast episodesCory JohnstonFri, 12 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/10/2/pissing-people-off-with-dusty-smith-while-brett-kavanaugh-becomes-a-monster573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5bb3db8d7817f70700f41148Host for these episodes include Cory, Lisa, Dan, Sarah, and Dave
The Skeptic Studio interview was with Dusty Smith
The Rectable discussion was on the Brett Kavanaugh hearings
Shift To Reason Radio includes crackpot audio, religious nuttery, the woo
report, and science

Pissing People Off with Dusty Smith

The Skeptic Studio #60

In this episode of The Skeptic Studio; Cory, Lisa, Dan, Sarah, and the always amazing Dave talk to the one and only Dusty Smith about how he became an atheist, how he became interested in creating videos, and why nobody should be sending unsolicited dick pics.

Of Course We Talked About Brett Kavanaugh

The Rectable #10

In this one Cory, Lisa, Sarah, Dan, and the amazing Dave talk about the hearings to confirm Brett Kavanaugh as a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and the very troubling way that these hearings were carried out and how the Republicans seem to be dealing with allegations of sexual assault and attempted rape by their supreme court nominee.

For many more articles and takes on the issue a mere google of Brett Kavanaugh will reveal a ton of information.

Orgasmyths and Monsters

Shift To Reason Radio #46

In this installment of the Shift To Reason Radio, Cory, Lisa, Sarah, Dan, and the always amazing Dave talk about religious people who see monsters and are fooled by doctored photos, the impact of crowdfunding on quack cancer cures, myths about hysteria treatments, and the chicken pox vaccine being important. There's also the new Crackpot Audio segment.

Thanks to our financial supporters, Kayla, Janet, Kim, Stephanie, Zach, The Utah Outcasts, Will, Aaron, Darryl, Destin sucks, BobbGlenn, Destin Doesn’t Suck That Much, Magnus, Several Species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave, Positively Skeptical, Rob, Keith, The Podunk Polymath, Larry and The Flying Spaghetti Monster (Sauce Be Upon Him). If you want to join them and help the show grow then you can do that at www.patreon.com/brainstormpodcast

LinksSupport]]>Pissing People Off with Dusty Smith While Brett Kavanaugh Becomes a MonsterEarthbound Parents Talking Sports and Selling BullshitCrew EpisodesGuest HostInterviewsPodcast episodesRectableShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonWed, 03 Oct 2018 15:12:46 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/10/3/earthbound-parents-talking-sports-and-selling-bullshit573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5bb4d4d4e2c483423e3bda7dThree parts, one full live show. The Skeptic Studio in this one had Richard
A Conn Jr. who is the author of the book The Earthbound Parent. The
Rectable had us chatting about sports celebrities and the way society seems
to react to them and Shift To Reason Radio had us cover religion, woo, and
science. Special guest host Rob Ray joined Rene and Cory while Dave did
double duty by sitting at the table and also doing the audio engineering.

Selling Bullshit

Shift To Reason Radio #45

In this episode of the Shift To Reason Radio Cory, Rene, guest host Rob, and the so amazing he can be on the panel while also doing the sound work Dave talk about some harm caused by religion, some good news finally coming from GOOP, probiotic yogurt not doing what people think it does, and a study that connects pot with schizophrenia

Thanks to our financial supporters, Kayla, Janet, Kim, Stephanie, Zach, The Utah Outcasts, Will, Aaron, Darryl, Destin sucks, BobbGlenn, Destin Doesn’t Suck That Much, Magnus, Several Species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave, Positively Skeptical, Rob, Keith, The Podunk Polymath, Larry and The Flying Spaghetti Monster (Sauce Be Upon Him). If you want to join them and help the show grow then you can do that at www.patreon.com/brainstormpodcast

LinksSupport]]>Earthbound Parents Talking Sports and Selling BullshitPrivately Speaking of the Dead Catholic ChurchCrew EpisodesInterviewsOut of StudioPodcast episodesRectableShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonFri, 21 Sep 2018 21:25:43 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/9/20/privately-speaking-of-the-dead-catholic-church573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5ba41b43b208fcbe3f45c098These are all the links and notes from the August 31st show. Make sure to
check out all of the episodes and become a patron for it all in one.

The End Of Privacy with BJ Mendelson

The Skeptic Studio #58

In this episode of the Brainstorm Podcast Skeptic Studio Cory, Lisa, Leo, Rene, and Destin talk to BJ Mendelson. BJ is the author of Social Media is Bullshit and The End of Privacy. We talked to him about social media, politics, and a bunch of other stuff.

Speaking Ill of the Dead

The Rectable #8

John McCain died and everyone was talking about it, and him for nearly a week (which may as well be a year in the attention span of modern society). In this Rectable session the crew figured they'd hash it out and see where they all stood.

How Is Anyone Still Catholic?

Shift To Reason Radio #44

Sorry about how late these are but here's the Shift to Reason Radio segment from the August 31st recording. Cory, Lisa, Leo, and Rene talk about the grand jury report on the Catholic church in Pennsylvania, GOOP coming to Canada, blue light's effects on the eyes, and race and DNA.

LinksSupport]]>Privately Speaking of the Dead Catholic ChurchTalking Credibly About The State Of Norwegian WoodThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectablePodcast episodesCrew EpisodesCory JohnstonTue, 03 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/7/2/talking-credibly-about-the-state-of-norwegian-wood573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5b3a3ed903ce64df66c587a2The crew talked to The Credible Hulk, they talked about Trinity Western
University and church/state issues in Canada and they talked about IQs,
perpetual motion machines, and what Americans think god looks like.

Talking Skepticism With The Credible Hulk

The Skeptic Studio #51

In this episode Cory, Angela, Lisa, Destin and the amazing Dave talk to Matthew Lee Loftus aka The Credible Hulk. They talked about the Hulk's origin story, anti science activists, and how to reach the public.

Religion And The State In Canada with Ian Bushfield

The Rectable #7

In this episode Cory, Destin, Angela, Lisa, and the amazing Dave talked to Ian Bushfield about a recent supreme court ruling on the rejection of Trinity Western University's law school by the law societies of BC and Ontario, as well as various other ways that religion and government mix in Canada.

LinksSupport]]>Talking Credibly About The State Of Norwegian WoodBeing a Black Non-Believer, Crushing Capitalism and SpidersThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectableCory JohnstonTue, 19 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/6/19/being-a-black-non-believer-crushing-capitalism-and-spiders573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5b2895f4aa4a996a28861889Full notes from the June 8th, 2018 live show

Mandisa Thomas

Being A Black Non-Believer With Mandisa Thomas

The Skeptic Studio #50

In this episode of the Skeptic Studio Cory, Angela, Lisa, Leo, Brandon, and the amazing Dave talk to Mandisa Thomas. Mandisa is the founder and president of Black Non-Believers. She talked to us about activism, identity, and some of the backlash she's gotten.

LinksSupport]]>Being a Black Non-Believer, Crushing Capitalism and SpidersSkeptical Comedy, Mother's Day, and MoreCrew EpisodesThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectableCory JohnstonMon, 28 May 2018 22:12:09 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/5/17/skeptical-comedy-mothers-day-and-more573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5afd1d7d562fa78cc7ee0fb8On this episode of The Skeptic Studio the crew (Cory, Angela, Rene,
Brandon, Lisa and Dave) talk to Ian Harris aka The Skeptical Comedian. They
talk about skepticism, comedy, #metoo, and why there seems to be an
abundance of bad stand up coming out on Netflix and other streaming
services lately.

Click through the image to get Ian's comedy special on Amazon

Skeptical Comedy with Ian Harris

The Skeptic Studio #48

On this episode of The Skeptic Studio the crew (Cory, Angela, Rene, Brandon, Lisa and Dave) talk to Ian Harris aka The Skeptical Comedian. They talk about skepticism, comedy, #metoo, and why there seems to be an abundance of bad stand up coming out on Netflix and other streaming services lately.

There aren't really any links for this chat as we all just kind of ran off the top of our heads.

Hating Imaginary Characters

Shift To Reason Radio #40

In this episode of Shift to Reason Radio Cory, Angela, Lisa, Rene, Brandon, and the amazing Dave talk about a bunch of woo, some great stories under the F*** you category, and some legit science. You get almost double the stories this week.

]]>Skeptical Comedy, Mother's Day, and MoreThe Valley Visits BrainstormThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioRectableCory JohnstonMon, 23 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/4/23/the-valley-visits-brainstorm573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5add07acaa4a99f473528239First the crew talks to the folks from Left At The Valley, then they talk
about people, and then they talk about news.

Left At The Valley Visits The Skeptic Studio

The Skeptic Studio #47

In this episode Cory, Lisa, Angela, Brandon, Rene, and the always amazing Dave talk to the crew from the Left At The Valley podcast. It was a lot of fun with a lot of tangents and jokes along the way.

Remember to give us a rating, a thumbs up or a fav on your podcatcher of choice, join our facebook group, like our page, follow us on twitter, share the show and spread the word.

Thanks for listening and remember, the truth matters.

]]>A Series of Unfortunate Technical GlitchesNotes in ProgressCory JohnstonWed, 01 Nov 2017 14:11:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2017/10/17/notes-in-progress573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:59e60e68bce176b620f95db0Hey everyone, as you may have noticed, the website is a bit out of date.
This is a result of being busy with various projects and the notes being
constantly put on the back burner. If you are curious about what an episode
that you listened to recently is about then I encourage you to head over to
www.thebrainstormpodcast.com and check out the notes there. Remember to
check out the show every second week on Spreaker at
www.spreaker.com/user/brainstormpodcast. The contact page is still live on
this site if you want to get in touch or you can email us a
mail@brainstormblog.net.
Thanks so much for checking out the show. We really appreciate it.
Remember; the truth matters.Hey everyone, as you may have noticed, the website is a bit out of date. This is a result of being busy with various projects and the notes being constantly put on the back burner. If you are curious about what an episode that you listened to recently is about then I encourage you to head over to www.thebrainstormpodcast.com and check out the notes there. Remember to check out the show every second week on Spreaker at www.spreaker.com/user/brainstormpodcast. The contact page is still live on this site if you want to get in touch or you can email us a mail@brainstormblog.net.

Thanks so much for checking out the show. We really appreciate it.

Remember; the truth matters.

]]>Controversy within CFI after Calgary Pride decisionBlog entriesCory JohnstonThu, 31 Aug 2017 23:48:36 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/cficontroversy573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:59a89ad837c581ab88abc863There have been some recent events that caused a bit of dissent among members of CFI Calgary, our local CFI Regina, and the national CFI Canada regarding support of Calgary Pride. I thought that I would gather up some of the posts, links, and information and provide it for anyone interested.

First, the Calgary Pride parade decided to tell the Calgary Police Service that they wouldn't let them march in uniform because of the impact that can have on POC and other groups who feel threatened by uniformed, organized police. This was a decision that took over 12 months and multiple meetings and was supported by the CPS.

Thank you for your feedback. Your voice is heard and appreciated. This decision was made after careful dialogue between Calgary Police Services, and Voices.

Our intention is to provide space for members of the Calgary Police force, while ensuring that marginalized Trans, People of Colour and Indigenous individuals feel safe attending the event. We have asked CPS to represent themselves in a manner conducive to our goal of providing safe space to this marginalized part of our community for which they agreed to in the spirit of ally ship, continued mutual respect and education. To be clear, the police are not banned from participating. The optics of their participation has been mutually adjusted to remove institutional representation such as their uniform, weapons and marked vehicles. These meetings between Calgary Pride, VOICES and CPS took place multiple times over a 12 month period. It was with careful thought and consideration that we reached our mutual decision.

We encourage and applaud their presence at the parade.

Your feedback is being collected, alongside the feedback of others for further review by the board.

A letter was then issued by some Calgary secularists with support from CFI Regina stating disappointment in the decision. The Regina Executive Board voted unanimously to support this letter as we felt that it was warranted where the statement by CFI Calgary was not.

This is the letter:

To The Calgary Centre For Inquiry,

We who have sent this letter are doing so to inform you that we were gravely disappointed in your decision to withdraw from the Calgary Pride Parade this year. Your letter betrays a profound ignorance regarding the arguments against police uniforms in Pride. We find ourselves wondering whether you bothered to “inquire” about them at all.

Your statement that you support “science, reason, human rights, and secular values” is contradicted by your decision to ignore the overwhelming evidence that currently, police services in Alberta and Canada do not “[support the] freedom of speech and safety “of queer people of color. Currently, they are active aggressors against queer people of color.

This has nothing to do with individual officers and this is not a case of a few “bad apples”. Anyone attempting to frame the argument that way is deliberately deflecting. Racism is institutionalized in our justice system and that system actively works to protect those within it who do perpetrate racist acts.http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1057567715586833

People of color are disproportionately targeted by police in Alberta. They are also far less likely to be given protection and justice when they are the victims of crime, as evidenced by the issue of MMIW. Currently, rather than acknowledge these issues and work to fix them, representatives within the police services have simply denied reality. In many cases, the issue has even been framed as some kind of mutual distrust that both parties are responsible for fixing, ignoring the fact that only one group has a massive amount of institutional power and a societal obligation to a high standard of conduct, regardless of circumstances.

Pride Parades today are a result of queer people of color resisting police. The fact that white LGBTQA+ folks are supported by law enforcement now is not an indication of successful acceptance of the LGBTQA2S+ community as a whole, and queer people of color are not obligated to make space for aggressors within their movement. Furthermore, police are required to protect peoples’ rights and safety. Doing so is not some special favor they bestow upon people; it is literally the bare minimum requirement of their job, and it does not entitle them to an official presence within the parade.

and the fact that your organization has chosen to defend clothing over marginalized people is extremely disheartening, particularly in the wake of the events in Charlottesville, VA, as well as several extremely racist events in Alberta. With irrefutable evidence that White Supremacy is alive and well, it falls to those of us who oppose it to actually ACT in opposition to it. Denouncing racism is meaningless when our actions uphold the systems that perpetuate it.

As members of the secular community, it is our obligation to inform you that your decision is harmful to us as a whole. Queer people of color do not want to attend events or give their time and money to groups who dismiss their voices and experiences, most especially when the evidence of what they are saying is overwhelming, and the group is one that prides itself on using a scientific approach. Given the fact that so many communities of color tend to be very religious, we fail our fellow atheists spectacularly when we do not ensure that our spaces are inclusive to them.

CFI Calgary’s decision has done damage to the atheist community of Alberta. We expect you to take immediate steps to mitigate this damage, beginning by upholding your organizations own values.

In it they make some rather harsh statements about CFI Canada retracting Calgary’s letter but not admonishing the Regina branch for supporting the letter from CFI Calgary members who were not on side with Helen. They proclaim to not accept the evidence of institutionalized racism. Even though institutionalized racism is an accepted fact among experts in the social sciences and is backed by multiple veins of evidence. I’ll leave that for you to judge on your own though. It seems to me that this shows a total lack of understanding of how social science is conducted and is the sociology equivalent to creationism or climate change denial.

The branch leader of CFI Regina commented on that post

Aiight, I'll chime in. I'm the current branch leader of CFI Regina. Like it or not, this was a policy statement by CFI Calgary. If they chose not to participate and said nothing, nobody would have cared. Incidentally, CFI Regina also did not officially have an entry in this year's Regina Pride parade due to the majority of its members, who marched with CFI in the past, marching with other organizations.

As such, a policy statement *should* (even as a matter of courtesy) be sent out to other branches and CFIC beforehand because it does affect us all. Because we are a part of a larger organization, as you mentioned, a policy statement on our public pages implies CFIC approval. Furthermore, I reached out to Helen to try to speak to her about it before this letter went out. It was time sensitive and she could not make time before the letter went out. I reached out to all CFIC members/exec that I was aware of, and was only able to ascertain that they had not approved her message either at an organizational level. I've met Helen before and found her to be quite intelligent, articulate, and pleasant and I still feel the same way about her today. I did delay the issuance of the CFI Regina support on that letter from Calgary Secularists, but it was beyond my control after a certain period of time. I supported the content, but wanted to wait until I spoke to Helen in case I was missing something.

My personal opinion is that CFI Calgary did mishandle this situation, as did CPS. If CPS marched before wearing uniforms with "no problem", that is fine. But if the LGBT community in Calgary has gained the strength to stand up and say that it makes them (even a small portion of them, ie VOICES) uncomfortable, the correct response from CPS is, "We understand and respect your position. We will go plain clothes and continue to show our support for as long as necessary to make proper reparations for the inappropriate actions of the police service in years past." It is my understanding that CPS agreed to go plain clothes. So why is CFI Calgary being offended on their behalf? Are they amplifying voices from CPS who told them that they weren't in favour of CPS's own decision? is that their place to do so?

Remember, marching in or attending a Pride Parade is an easy way of supporting the LGBTQ community. Being allowed to advertise your organization in the parade*, is a way of the LGBTQ community supporting YOU. That support from the LGBTQ community should be earned, not demanded. *(whether by showing a company logo, displaying political party emblems, or wearing a uniform)

The (not so) veiled threats against CFIC are in my opinion, unwarranted and unneeded. CFIC does great things both here and abroad and atheists, secularists, freethinkers, and agnostics benefit from having a national organization that can do things that we can't do alone. Going back to our group-think mentality in basements of night clubs may feel better, but won't really challenge anyone to grow and change as an individual, and would likely continue the atheist movement as being very white cis male dominated. I say that as a white cis male with privileges.

So in conclusion, yes CFI Regina is full of reasonable, rational social justice warriors and I hope to keep it that way. Social justice still values empowerment. I share Bill's frustration with vitriol towards speakers or organizers for any little thing, but I'd rather have them express their frustrations than internalize them as their fault, or leave the group. Every speaker at an event has held problematic beliefs at one time or another, it's all about how we/they change and grow and hopefully those speakers can be viewed by their most recent body of work. I too see problems with the platforming/deplatforming debate, free speech in Universities, gender equality, and other problems plaguing the atheist movement. We don't get better by going back to our basements.

I hope we can all continue our discussions respectfully and get past this to keep fighting for the greater causes of secularism, humanism, equality, and justice for all.

Upon hearing that a couple of the Pride organizers agreed with them and decided to start an alternative Pride where the police can wear their uniforms they declared victory in Trumpian style insulting those organizations they disagree with.

I wrote this blog as a response to the various happenings surrounding this issue to help inform, and specifically because my local CFI branch was called out by the LoRD podcast. This isn’t intended to speak for CFI Regina in any way and is, for the most part just a report of the facts as they happened.

I, personally was very disappointed in the decision by Calgary CFI and I’ve said as much in comments sections. I don’t care to spend time calling names or engaging with science denial but I haven’t been a fan of the Legion of Reason in a long time because of their stance on social issues and their biased coverage of the incidents on college campuses. It is my view that their opinions are on the wrong side of the evidence and that they had no business calling out CFI Canada or CFI Regina. That said, I’m going to share a couple more perspectives on the situation from my fellow Regina CFI members.

Marching in or attending a Pride Parade is an easy way of supporting the LGBTQ community.

Being allowed to advertise* your organization in the parade, is a way of the LGBTQ community supporting YOU.

That support from the LGBTQ community should be earned, not demanded.

*(whether by showing a company logo, displaying political party emblems, or wearing a uniform)

James B. – member of CFI Regina said in a message*

This shouldn't just be brushed off as "not participating" since they deliberately wrote a carefully worded letter.

I think a major thing they are missing, is that the decision we had a problem with was not that they didn't participate in the parade it's that they also published an open letter in criticism of the parade's decision thereby taking the side of CPS and essentially staging a little protest/boycott over the decision to ban police in uniform. There's disagreeing with pride's decision, and then there's disagreeing with it SO MUCH that you have to write an open letter to, I dunno, show how pro-police you are, or something?

I just don't see the big deal. If I was with a particular employer, and said "hey, I'd like to march in the pride parade with a few of our co-workers. We can even bring a banner to show the company's support" ,and someone said, "Well actually, did you know your CEO contributes money to hard right candidates with strong anti-gay viewpoints? We're not that cool with your company actually. Please join our march but do not do so representing your company", I'd say "ok, that makes perfect sense, I'll be there.", and I sure wouldn't want or need CFI trying to be my white knight and boycott the parade in protest.

In summary, here we are with a group who is upset with a decision that Pride organizers made so they decided not to participate but not just, not participate. They also chose to write a public letter to Pride chastising them for their decision. The decision was something that one can understand even if I disagree with it. Writing the letter went too far. They did so without consulting CFI National and without discussing it with any other CFI branches. Some members of their group were frustrated and disappointed and wrote a new, public letter expressing their feelings on the subject. CFI Regina supported that letter publicly. CFI Canada published a retraction of the Calgary letter. The CFI Calgary branch leader steps down, then the Legion of Reason Diversion podcast went on to criticize CFI Canada for the retraction and CFI Regina for standing against the Calgary branch’s very unnecessary letter. The whole thing could have been avoided if CFI Calgary had simply not participated rather than grandstanding their disapproval of the Pride decision all over their public page.

Finally, I leave you with a quote from another Canadian podcaster and activist, Ian Bushfield when he shared the CFI Calgary letter on his facebook page.

A skeptic group vocally sides with police over the express decision of the LGBTQ community. Don't agree with Pride's decision? Don't attend, but don't try to pretend you're a bigger ally to the LGBTQ community than the people actually organizing the march.

Cory Johnstonhost of the Brainstorm podcast and The Hardcore Skeptic Examines

]]>Controversy within CFI after Calgary Pride decisionPeriods, Shoes, and Sex and the City; The Ladies Take Over Brainstorm and Make Big Pharma TransparentCrew EpisodesPodcast episodesInterviewsShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonMon, 21 Aug 2017 18:53:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/9/22/periods-shoes-and-sex-and-the-city-the-ladies-take-over-brainstorm-and-make-big-pharma-transparent573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5ba68fc17817f764cdcad4deIn this episode the women of Brainstorm take over. Angela takes the reins
and Lisa, Cory, Rene, new host Basit, and the always amazing Dave had our
patron, Will, on to get to know our top supporter. Then Basit talks a bit
about finance and his thoughts on how debt can affect one's carbon
footprint.

Periods, Shoes, and Sex and the City; The Ladies Take Over Brainstorm

The Skeptic Studio #24

In this episode the women of Brainstorm take over. Angela takes the reins and Lisa, Cory, Rene, new host Basit, and the always amazing Dave had our patron, Will, on to get to know our top supporter. Then Basit talks a bit about finance and his thoughts on how debt can affect one's carbon footprint.

Music from the breakChristmas in Washington” by Steve Earle “White Man in Decline” by Sarah Harmer “We Will Still Need A Song” by Hawksley Workman “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn

original background fro Pixabay

Making Big Pharma Transparent

Shift To Reason Radio #23

In a bit of a change for us, we had a guest in the Shift to Reason Radio portion of the show. Ian Bushfield joined Angela, Lisa, Cory, Basit, Rene, and the always amazing Dave to talk about a recent paper he took part in, on the transparency of pharmaceutical companies. Then we talk about scotch taping the end of your penis as a contraceptive, and we briefly touch on the sexist google manifesto situation.

LinksSupport]]>Periods, Shoes, and Sex and the City; The Ladies Take Over Brainstorm and Make Big Pharma TransparentF**k The Health with Chris WatsonGuest HostCrew EpisodesPodcast episodesThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioCory JohnstonMon, 07 Aug 2017 18:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/7/2/fck-the-health-with-chris-watson573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5b3a77a0758d46dbcf27b966This time around we had a guest host, Chris Watson join us to talk some
trash about our fellow atheists and skeptics. We also piss and moan about
fake gluten allergies and shitty customer service at the gym. Essentially,
we say fuck everybody. Then we talk a bit about trans issues, the What the
Health documentary, the bible, and people who don't get their dogs
vaccinated.

F**k Everybody with Chris Watson

The Skeptic Studio #22

This time around we had a guest host, Chris Watson join us to talk some trash about our fellow atheists and skeptics. We also piss and moan about fake gluten allergies and shitty customer service at the gym. Essentially, we say fuck everybody.

LinksSupport]]>F**k The Health with Chris WatsonTaking The Super Woo PledgeThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioPodcast episodesCrew EpisodesCory JohnstonMon, 31 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2017/7/31/taking-the-super-woo-pledge573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5b2177ca352f535c2c2e85fcThis time around we interview Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, founder of the Pro-Truth
pledge and president of the Intentional Insights organization. Then we
spend some time talking to the crew about our break between episodes. Much
more fun than serious then we talk about a variety of topics; death metal
yoga, cancer woo, climate change denial, gluten free holy bread, and a
short bit on identity politics.

Pro-Truth Pledge Logo

Taking The Pro-Truth Pledge with Gleb Tsipursky

The Skeptic Studio #22

This time around we interview Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, founder of the Pro-Truth pledge and president of the Intentional Insights organization. Then we spend some time talking to the crew about our break between episodes. Much more fun than serious.

LinksSupport]]>Taking The Super Woo PledgeTen Tough Problems With Newborn Baby SamplesCrew EpisodesShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonMon, 17 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/5/15/ten-tough-problems-with-newborn-baby-samples573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5afaf7f8f950b7ce9a6a63b9In this one we interviewed David Madison; author of Ten Tough Problems with
Christian Thought and Belief. It was a lot of fun and a great interview
before we moved onto a bit about our break and then we talk about how
medical science seems to be failing women and it pushes them towards
wellness centers and some pretty wootastic stuff. Then we look at a book
about science treating women as inferior and read some dumb tweets before
we get derailed while talking about witches, question why Alex Jones is
suddenly being taken seriously, learn about knife massages, and lament the
bible as a textbook in Kentucky public schools

Book cover for David Madison's Ten Tough Problems in Christian Thought

Ten Tough Problems with Christian Thought with David Madison

The Skeptic Studio #21

In this one we interviewed David Madison; author of Ten Tough Problems with Christian Thought and Belief. It was a lot of fun and a great interview before we moved onto a bit about our break and then we talk about how medical science seems to be failing women and it pushes them towards wellness centers and some pretty wootastic stuff.

Free Newborn Baby Samples

Shift To Reason Radio #19

In this one we look at a book about science treating women as inferior and read some dumb tweets before we get derailed while talking about witches, question why Alex Jones is suddenly being taken seriously, learn about knife massages, and lament the bible as a textbook in Kentucky public schools

Links]]>Ten Tough Problems With Newborn Baby SamplesStory Telling and Star Trek with Callie WrightShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioPodcast episodesInterviewsCrew EpisodesCory JohnstonMon, 26 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/5/6/story-telling-and-star-trek-with-callie-wright573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5aef6094f950b763248a6fd5This time around we had Callie Wright of the Gaytheist Manifesto and The
Queer Side on to talk about her new show and the power of storytelling. We
managed to get into some talk about Star Trek too, and how it had it's own
themes around gender and sexuality. When we let Callie go we talk a bit
about our week and a bit about the toxicity that exists within online
atheism. In the second half of the show we discuss a women's health
products again because apparently there's a lot of pseudoscience around
that. Then we get into a little bit of men's health that isn't so wootastic
before we talk about some magic stickers. Leo talks about a bill on
immigration in Canada and then Cory talks about religious hospitals that
are getting sneaky in their attempts to deny patients right to die.

The Queer Side is Callie Wright's side project

Story Telling and Star Trek with Callie Wright

The Skeptic Studio #20

This time around we had Callie Wright of the Gaytheist Manifesto and The Queer Side on to talk about her new show and the power of storytelling. We managed to get into some talk about Star Trek too, and how it had it's own themes around gender and sexuality. When we let Callie go we talk a bit about our week and a bit about the toxicity that exists within online atheism.

Magic Stickers and Women's Health

Shift to Reason Radio #18

In this week's installment we discuss a women's health products again because apparently there's a lot of pseudoscience around that. Then we get into a little bit of men's health that isn't so wootastic before we talk about some magic stickers. Leo talks about a bill on immigration in Canada and then Cory talks about religious hospitals that are getting sneaky in their attempts to deny patients right to die.

]]>Story Telling and Star Trek with Callie WrightPregnancy Woo with Dr. Amy TuteurShift To Reason RadioThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonMon, 15 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2017/5/15/pregnancy-woo-with-dr-amy-tuteur573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5acf700d1ae6cf77138a08a2In this one we talked with Dr. Amy Tuteur aka the Skeptical OB about some
woo surrounding pregnancy and parenting that is harmful to women. Then we
talk to David Richards about a unified school system in Saskatchewan before
the music break. Then the crew spent some time talking blasphemy and spent
some more time on the woo surrounding women's health.

Pregnancy Woo with Dr. Amy Tuteur

The Skeptic Studio #17

In this one we talked with Dr. Amy Tuteur aka the Skeptical OB about some woo surrounding pregnancy and parenting that is harmful to women. Then we talk to David Richards about a unified school system in Saskatchewan before the music break.

Remember to give us a rating, a thumbs up or a fav on your podcatcher of choice, join our facebook group, like our page, follow us on twitter, share the show and spread the word.

Thanks for listening and remember, the truth matters.

The Skeptic Studioshift to reason radioHomefront page]]>Pregnancy Woo with Dr. Amy TuteurAnthropology, Atheism, and Female Circumcision w/ Dr.Carlos Londono SulkinThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioCory JohnstonMon, 01 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2017/5/1/anthropology-atheism-and-female-circumcision-w-drcarlos-londono-sulkin573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5ace9f3e6d2a73de67797bf7For this one we had a very interesting in studio guest, Dr. Carlos Londono
Sulkin is a professor of anthropology at the University of Regina. We
talked about what anthropology is, what he is interested in, his father in
law and a bit about female circumcision.

The Skeptic Studio #16

or this one we had a very interesting in studio guest, Dr. Carlos Londono Sulkin is a professor of anthropology at the University of Regina. We talked about what anthropology is, what he is interested in, his father in law and a bit about female circumcision.

Easter Bread And Boobs

Shift To Reason Radio #15

In this one we talked a bit about a recent court ruling about Catholic schools in Saskatchewan. We went off track a bit because we were so well behaved with our guest earlier. Then we went on to talk about a few other topics.

Remember to give us a rating, a thumbs up or a fav on your podcatcher of choice, join our facebook group, like our page, follow us on twitter, share the show and spread the word.

Thanks for listening and remember, the truth matters.

Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioHomefront page]]>Anthropology, Atheism, and Female Circumcision w/ Dr.Carlos Londono SulkinOversharing With Justin BenderShift To Reason RadioPodcast episodesThe Skeptic StudioCory JohnstonMon, 17 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/4/5/oversharing-with-justin-bender573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5ac6ffe62b6a28519ce17868In this one we had Justin Bender from the local sci-fi inspired band; Third
Ion. We talk about music, being a geek, and just about anything else that
comes to mind. After the ad break we try to look at all the recent military
action without panicking. Then, our guest Justin, stayed with us for a bit
longer in this one as we cover some religious nuttery segments, a bit about
some improper practices by Alberta Health Services, and we consider why
Russia seems to be so adamantly against gay rights.

Oversharing With Justin Bender

Brainstorm #69 - The Skeptic Studio #15

In this one we had Justin Bender from the local sci-fi inspired band; Third Ion. We talk about music, being a geek, and just about anything else that comes to mind. After the ad break we try to look at all the recent military action without panicking.

Is Russian Culture Anti-Gay?

Brainstorm #69 - Shift to Reason Radio #14

Our guest, Justin, stayed with us for a bit longer in this one as we cover some religious nuttery segments, a bit about some improper practices by Alberta Health Services, and we consider why Russia seems to be so adamantly against gay rights.

Remember to give us a rating, a thumbs up or a fav on your podcatcher of choice, join our facebook group, like our page, follow us on twitter, share the show and spread the word.

Thanks for listening and remember, the truth matters.

]]>Oversharing With Justin BenderInappropriate Words With The Science EnthusiastsThe Skeptic StudioShift To Reason RadioPodcast episodesCory JohnstonMon, 03 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000https://www.brainstormblog.net/notes/2018/4/5/inappropriate-words-with-the-science-enthusiasts573b94b7e3214051f4c12777:573ba0beb4ed3b4738bdf417:5ac5d74303ce644a7d57bebfWe had a lot of fun with this interview and made plenty of inappropriate
jokes. Natalie and Dan were great and rolled with our usual Brainstorm
chaos really well. After we let them go we spent a little bit of time
talking about the gender pay gap. Then we talk about a man being charged
with pretending to practice witchcraft, whether or not Shaq is a flat
earther, facial cupping, and more.

Inappropriate Words With The Science Enthusiasts

Brainstorm#68 - Skeptic Studio#14

We had a lot of fun with this interview and made plenty of inappropriate jokes. Natalie and Dan were great and rolled with our usual Brainstorm chaos really well. After we let them go we spent a little bit of time talking about the gender pay gap.